4. When you read the facts of a case, consider you are reading
a "story", and learn the characters and the plot of
the story well - do a pencil figure diagram with arrows showing
each character, their name and with the arrows what they are doing
or not doing in the "story" - this will help you comprehend
the case better, and learn the legal principles also more throurooughly
- read this article - click
here

5. Read the your law book information with "critical judgment"
- click here for powerpoint
presentation for webpage click
here - if you do not have powerpoint program. (this is written
by Vivian Sinou, Director of Distance Education at Foothill Community
College in Altos, California, near San Francisco - thanks Vivian).

step 1: Your recognize and recall
At the most basic level, when you are finished reading, you should
be able to close your book and recall some concrete information,
such as:
What are some of the authors main arguments?
What facts and evidence does the author present?
When did this incident take place?
Where did this event take place?

step 2: translate - put into your own words
At the second level of thinking you translate the information
presented in your own words. This is exactly what you do when
you write a summary.
Translating information in your own words allows you to know whether
you understood it. It is the first level of processing the information.

step 3: Interpretation: You understand information in relation
to other ideas
(comparison, contrast, causes and effects, etc.)
At the third level of critical thinking you interpret the information,
meaning you attempt to understand the different ideas presented
by examining how they relate to other points, subpoints, arguments,
scenarios, etc.

step 4: Application: you user your new information to solve
new problems.
At the fourth level of critical thinking, you apply the information
presented by attempting to solve new problems, by relating to
it, by transferring it to new settings, or by using it in different
situations. When applying information, ask yourself: How can
one use. . .? How does this relate to . . .?

step 5: Analysis: You break down complex ideas to examine various
components
At the fifth level of critical thinking you analyze complex ideas
presented in a reading by taking them apart and examining various
components. When examining complex ideas, one should explore
why and how kinds of questions.

Step 6: Synthesis: You create information to summarize, conclude,
predict, connect, or create new ideas.
At the sixth level of critical thinking you synthesize the information
or points presented. Questions that you could ask yourself include:
What is the connection between. . . ? What conclusions can one
draw from this? What does this idea contribute to . . .? How does
this idea relate to our social . . .?

Step 7: You judge worth, validity, accuracy, relevancy or other
quality
At the seventh level of critical thinking you evaluate the information
or points presented.
Questions that you could ask yourself include: Is the information
valid, accurate, convincing? Is the information relevant or worthwhile?
Is the author correct when he says. . . ? Do you agree with the
idea. . . ? Why?

suggestions to improve your scores on the law quizzes:

1. read the question, and the answers. Try to figure out which
legal principle is being tested.

2.a legal principle is a rule or law. each rule usually is set
up like a math formula. i.e. assault and battery = 1. an offsensive
2. touching 3. without consent

3.then re-read the question after you have determined which legal
principle applies.

4. check to see if all of the elements of the "formula"
are present. i.e. is there an offensive touching without consent.
Be careful to "analyze" each element to make sure it
is present or not. This is the "tricky" part.

5. Sometimes the author will test if you understand the "exception
to the rule" - again there is a formula. eg. defenses to
an assault and battery -
* Self defense
* Defense of others
* Factual innocence  it wasnt you
* Lack of intent, such as an accident
* Defense of property

so make sure that no facts exist under an exception when you are
trying to apply a general rule of law.